Waterville police investigating brawl near tavern

WATERVILLE, Maine — A major brawl near the Silver Street Tavern early Saturday morning sent one man to the hospital and had police searching for answers.

Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said police were called to what he called “a large fight in progress” in an alleyway off Spring Street around 12:45 a.m., and when officers arrived, a large group of people scattered.

Police were able to interview one man who had been hit by a piece of wood and was bleeding from wounds to his head and face, according to Rumsey. He was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer campus for treatment.

Rumsey said numerous other people at the scene said they had been assaulted by a group of people and had suffered head and facial injuries. However, very few of them — including the man taken to the hospital — were interested in pressing charges, the deputy chief added.

“We have an active investigation going on to try to piece together what happened in that alleyway,” Rumsey said.

While at the scene, police did arrest three men on charges unrelated to the case: Joshua Wheaton, 26, of Norridgewock on a probation hold and refusing to submit to arrest, as he allegedly tried to flee the scene when police questioned him; Jeremy Brown, 27, of Waterville on unpaid fines for an OUI; and Ryan Gormley, 21, of Waterville for unknown unpaid fines out of Kennebec County, Rumsey said.

Rumsey said its unclear if any of the three men were involved in the fight.

“They were in the immediate area following the fight,” he said. “We are investigating to determine the extent of their involvement in the assaults.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Waterville police at 680-4700.